Current-collector.



y N"758528' I I PATRNTRD'APR. 26; 1904.

J. R. GREENWOOD.

Y CURRRNTI' COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION IILnn un 1s. 1903. lo xomxLI F92. 2/ C 59A zz4 uonms Pernis zo. mormrmo.. wAsumm-ou. n. c.

Patented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

` JOHN E. GREENWOOD, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

CURRENT-COLLECTOR.

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,528, dated April 26, 1904.

.Application filed May 16, 1903. Serial No. 157,471. (No model.)

To all whom it mfcby concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. GREENWOOD, a citizen of the-United States, residing at Utica, in the .county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Current-Collectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to current-collectors for electrically-propelled vehicles, more particularly to the character of devices adapted to collect a current from overhead trolleys; and the primary object thereof is to provide a collector which will at all times `under any circumstances keep the trolley-wire and gather suflicient current to supply an electric vehicle of any magnitude with sufficient energy to propel the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for permitting the trolley-wheels to have automatic, horizontal, and vertical movements, whereby the device may at all times keep the trolley, especially when the vehicle is rounding a curve or making a switch, without liability of its being casually displaced.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the nature of the' device is more fully understood from the following description and accompanying drawings. I

The invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred form of my invention,

and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevationof a current-collector constructed in accordancewith my invention,the trolley-pole being in section. Fig.' 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the pole-cap.

`Referring to the drawings by reference-numerals, 1 designates a fragmentary portion of the upper end of a trolley-pole adapted to receive, to permit of its having an oscillating motion, a shaft 2, carrying a 'harp.3, .in which are trolley-wheels. The shaft 2 is provided at a point near its lower end with an annular groove 4, into which fit the ends of screws 5, adapted to mount the shaft within the upper lis a pole-cap 9, carrying the harp 3.

end of the trolley-pole to permit of its having an oscillating motion.. -The upper end of said shaft is provided with an approximately rectangular and enlarged head '6, to one side of which is secured one end of, a leaf-spring 7. The spring is twisted at a point near the u-pper end thereof to place its greater portion in longitudinal alinement with the trolley-pole, and the free end thereof isseated in the bifurcated endof a stud 8, suitably connectedto. the trolley-pole, and is held therein by a pin 8, closing the entrance to the slot in the stud.

The spring permits of an oscillating motion of the'shaft and causes the same to retain its normal position.

Mountedk on the rectangular head of the shaft 2 in longitudinal alinement therewilth T ie pole-cap 9 consists of an elongated plate 10, having depending from the center thereof parallel-arranged flanges 11, said flanges being provided with perforations through which pass the ends of a bolt l2, carried by the head 6, to fulcrum the pole-cap upon the shaft 2. The fulcrum of the pole-cap upon the shaft 2 permits of the harp having a rocking or a vertical movement upon the shaft 2, whereby it is possible for the trolley-wheels to keep the trolley-wire regardless of the angle of ythe trolley-pole with relation to the wire. The

ordinary trolley-pole is provided at its base with a spring which has a tendency to force it into a vertical position in order that the trolley-wheels may be retained in engagement with the trolley-wire, and in yview of the vertical movement of the harp and the downward pressure of the wire on the trolley-wheels the harp will occupy a horizontalposition when the-trolley-wheels are in engagement with the trolley-wire. rlhe harp 3 consists of sides 13,: connected at each end by bars 14, said sides having depending portions 15 connected by a plate 16. The plate 16 is provided with a central perforationthrough which passes a bolt 17, carried by the plate 10, whereby the harp is mounted upon the pole-cap to have a horizontal movement thereon. This horizontal movement of the harp upon the pole-'cap permits the trolley-wheels to follow the trolley-wire against casual displacement when IOO the vehicle is rounding a curve or making a switch. Springs 18, connectedto eyes 19 and 20, carried 'by the plate 10 and sides 13, respectively, permit of the harp 3 having a horizontal movement, but immediately rights the same after the vehicle has rounded a curve or made a switch and retains the harp in its normal position.

21 21 designate the trolley-wheels, having the peripheries thereof grooved to receive the trolley-wire, and are journaled upon axles 22, mounted upon the sides 13 and detaehably secured in applied position by means of nuts carried by .said axles. The mounting of two wheels upon the harp permits the gathering of a greater amount of current than is possible when only one wheel is used, whereby a car of any size may be supplied with sufficient current, and it may also be stated that the forward wheel will clear the wire of snow or ice and insure a good contact for the following wheel. The construction of the harp is suoli that it will be impossible for a wheel leaving the carriage and crushing through the roof of a car should one of the axles break.

It is apparent from the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I provide a current-collector which is cheap, durable, and efficient and one that will keep the trolley-wire against casual displacement when the car is rounding a curve, making a switch, or no matter what angle the trolley-pole assumes with relation 'to the wire.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a shaft movably mounted on the trolley-pole,a polecap mounted on the shaft, a harp mounted on the pole-cap, and trolley-wheels carried by the larp.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a shaft mounted thereon to have an oscillating movement, a pole-cap mounted upon the shaft to have a vertical movement, a harp mounted upon the pole-cap to have a horizontal Inovement, means connecting the pole-cap and harp to limit the movement of the latter and retain it in its normal position, and trolley-wheels journaled in the harp.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a shaft mounted thereon to have an oscillating movement, means for limiting the movement of the shaft, a pole-cap mounted upon the shaft to have a vertical movement, a harp mounted upon the pole-cap to have a horizontal movement, means connecting the pole-cap and harp to limit the movement of the latter and retain itin its normal position, and trolley-wheels journaled on the harp.

4. In a device of the character described. the combination with a trolley-pole, of a shaft provided with an annular groove and fitted within the pole, means carried by the pole and fitting within the groove to retain the shaft in applied position, a stud carried by the pole, a spring connected to the stud and shaft to permit of the latter having a limited oscillating movement, a pole-cap mounted upon the shaft, a harp carried. by the pole-cap, and trolley-wheels journaled upon the harp.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a shaft provided with an annular groove and an enlarged head, means carried by the trolley-pole and fitting within the groove to retain the pole in applied position, a stud provided with abifurcated end and carried by the trolley-pole, a leaf-spring having one end thereof connected to said head and the other end fitted into the slot of said bifurcation, a pole-cap mounted upon said head, a harp mounted upon the pole-cap, and trolley-wheels journaled upon the harp.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination With a trolley-pole, of a shaft provided with an enlarged head and an annular groove, means carried by the trolley-pole and fitting within said groove to retain the pole in applied position, astud provided with a bifurcated end and carried by the trolleypole, a leaf-spring having one end thereof connected to said head and the other end fitted within the slot of said bifurcation, a pole-cap mounted upon said head to have a vertical movement, a harp mounted upon the pole-cap to have a horizontal movement, and trolleywheels journaled on the harp.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a shaft movably mounted on the trolley-pole, means to limit the movement of the shaft, a pole-cap mounted on the shaft, a harp movably mounted on the pole-cap,- means to limit themovement of and retain the harp in its normal position, and trolley-wheels carried by the harp.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trolley-pole, of a shaft movably mounted on the trolley-pole, spring means to limit the movement of the shaft, a harp movably mounted on the shaft, spring means to limit the movement of the harp, and trolley-wheels carried by the harp.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. GREENWOOD Witnesses:

B. V. BUTTS, E. J. BROWN.

IIO 

